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k In  Senate^  2lst  March^  1811. 

I MR.  PLATT^S  SPEECH, 


ON  THE  BILL  FOR  ESTABLISHING 


I Mr.  Chairman.^ 

The  general  principles  and  policy  of  the  bankiftg 
system,  have  been  so  fully  and  ably  discussed  on  this 
floor,  during  this  session,  that  I deem  it  unnecessary  to 
enter  at  large  on  that  subject  on  the  present  occasion.—’ 
f ]My  remarks  will  be  confined  chiefly  to  the  peculiar 
r merits  of  the  bill  now  before  us. 

! Early  in  the  present  session,  a report  was  made,  shcw» 

: ing  t}:e  amount  of  bank-capital  in  this  slate  ; and  the  hon- 
; orable  member  from  the  Southern  District  (Mr.De  Witt 
' Clinton)  has  endeavored  to  prove,  that  the  amount  of 
capital  already  authorized  by  law  to  be  employed  in  the 
established  banks,  is  sufficient  for  an  ample  circulating 
medium  ; and  that  it  is  dangerous  to  increase  that  capi- 
tal by  incorporating  new  banks. 

I deny  the  justice  of  his  conclusion  from  that  report. 
The  nominal  amount  of  capital  in  the  acts  of  incorpora- 
tion, is  very  uncertain  evidence  of  the  real  amount  em- 
ployed in  banking  operations.  In  many  of  the  bcuiks, 
only  a small  part  of  the  stock  subscribed,  has  been  actu- 
ally paid  or  invested  ; and  as  well  might  it  be  contended 
that  ten  millions  of  dollars  are  actually  employed  by  the 
manufacturing  companies  in  this  state  ; because  the  acts 
for  their  incorporation  authorize  them  to  go  to  that  extent. 

The  legal  right  or  capacity  of  employing  capital  in 
^ banks  or  manufactories,  is  one  thing  ; and  the  actual  in- 
• vestment  of  that  capital  is  another  thing. 

^ I deny,  however,  that  the  amount  of  capital  in  the 
existing  banks  is  the  only  criterion  to  decide  on  the 


expediency  of  establishing  a new  bank*  Nor  does 
this  question  of  expediency  depend  solely  on  the 
number  of  banks  already  incorporated.  It  is  not  true, 
sir,  as  has  been  contended,  that  the  amount  of  paper 
medium,  or  bank  notes  in  circulation,  will  always  de- 
pend on  the  amount  of  bank  capital  j and  to  exempli- 
fy this  remark,  I ask  whether  the  late  establishment 
of  a new  bank  in  Albany,  with  a capital  nearly  equal 
to  that  of  both  the  old  banks,  will  double  the  amount 
of  discounts  or  bank-loans  in  this  city  ? No,  sir  ; the 
additional  bank  will  participate  in  loans  and  profits 
with  the  other  banks.  It  will  equalize  and  extend 
discounts  and  accommodations  among  the  citizens  of 
Albany.  It  will  in  a small  degree  increase  the  circu- 
lating medium  ; but  that  increase  will  bear  no  pro- 
portion to  the  increase  of  capital. 

It  is  as  important  that  our  banks  be  fairly  and  equal- 
ly distributed  among  our  principal  commercial 
towns  ; as  that  a sufficient  bank-capital  should  be 
created. 

During  the  present  session  of  the  legislature,  the 
following  banks  have  been  incorporated,  viz. 

Cafiital. 

Union  Bank,  in  New-York,  - gl, 800, 000 

Middle  District  Bank,  consisting  ofl 

one  branch  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  500,000 

one  branch  at  Esopus,  J 

Mechanics  and  Farmers  Bank,  (x\lbany)  600,000 
Bank  of  Newburgh  - - 400,000 

Bank  of  Troy  ...  500,000 


§3.800,000 

What  the  legislature  have  done,  I am  bound  to  re- 
.spect  as  the  result  of  wisdom  and  sound  policy  : and 
if  1 can  shew  that  the  claim  of  the  Western  District 
for  a bank,  is  as  well  founded  as  any  other  application 
w hich  has  received  the  sanction  of  this  legislature  ; I 
trust  it  will  not  fail  of  equal  success. 

Permit  me  to  ask  the  attention  of  the  Senate  to  the 
pie  .cnt  di.=tribution  of  banks  in  this  state  ; and  tli® 
an.iount  of  capital  allowed  to  each. 


08  ^ontmerc®. 


The  banks  now  established  are  as  follows 


its>  Banks. 

Capital. 

•3 — New  “York, 

S 1,040, 000 

Manhattan 

2,000,000 

Merchants* 

1,250,000 

Mechanics* 

1,500,000 

Union 

i,soo,ooo 

S7, 690, 0000 

-Columbia 

160,000 

Hudson 

300,00  0 

Middle  District  500,000 

Newburgh 

400,000 

81,360,000 

■Albany 

8270,000 

Farmers* 

300,000 

Mohawk 

260,000 

State 

460,000 

Mechanics 

0 

and  Farmers 

V 600,000 

T roy 

500,000 

82,390,000 

Western  District,  362,077  JK^'one. 

By  this  statement  it  appears,  that  the  population  of 
the  Western  District  is  about  egual  to  that  of  the 
Southern  and  Middle  Districts  united  ; and  more  than 
one  third  of  the  whole  population  of  the  state. 

I will  not  contend  that  population  is  the  only  just 
rule  of  apportionment.  The  city  of  New-York  is  our 
center  of  commerce  and  great  metropolis  of  dollars. — • 
I readily  admit  that  to  be  our  principal  theatre  of 
banking  operations  ; and  that  it  has  not  more  than  its 
due  proportion  of  banks  : but  justice  and  policy  de- 
mand that  the  immense  region  of  the  W estern  Dis- 
trict should  at  least  be  accommodated  with  one  bank. 

It  is  mockery  and  insult  to  tell  us  that  the  exist- 
ing banks  have  sutiicient  capital,  and  can  supply  as 


inucli  paper  medium  as  is  proper  to  be  emitted.  Tiie 
banks  of  Albany)  Troy,  and  Schenectady  confine  their 
loans  to  a narrow  circle  of  customers  j and  very  rare- 
ly if  ever  extend  their  accommodations  to  persons  in 
the  Western  District.  A uniform  rule  is  established 
by  them  requiring  an  indorser  in  the  immediate  vi- 
cinity of  the  bank  : and  very  few  gentlemen  in  the 
AVestern  District  have  iriends  in  Albany,  Schenecta- 
dy or  Troy^  of  whom  they  can  ask  the  favor  of  becom- 
ing their  indorsers.  Tliat  is  a request  which  can  sel- 
dom be  made  with  propriety  ; except  by  those  who 
are  in  a situation  to  reciprocate  the  favor. 

With  the  exception  of  the  cities  of  Nev/-York  and 
Albany,  I assert  that  the  Western  District  is  more 
cnliticd  to  a bank,  than  any  other  portion  of  the  state 
containing  equal  population.  In  all  the  counties  bor- 
derlng  on  the  Hudson’s  River  between  Albany  and 
Kew-York,  the  merchants  during  nine  months  in  the 
year,  have  easy  and  immediate  access  to  New-York.— • 
They  can  in  a few  days  command  money  at  the  high- 
est New-York  prices  fowthe  produce  of  the  country, 
without  the  aid  of  banks.  The  fiirmer  in  that  part  of 
the  state  is  never  obliged  to  sell  his  produce  to  the 
country  merchant.  By  means  of  the  excellent  and 
immense  navigation  of  that  River,  he  can  without 
risque  or  trouble,  send  it  to  the  New-York  market  on 
his  own  account  ; and  receive  the  avails  in  a few  days. 
Banks  are  therefore  almost  useless  to  the  trader  and 
the  farmer  in  that  part  of  the  state  j except  during  a 
small  portion  of  the  year  when  the  navigation  is  ob- 
structed by  ICC.  In  the  Western  District,  an  im- 
mense surplus  produce  is  remote  from  the  navigable 
waters  of  the  Hudson  : its  progress  to  the  Albany 
and  New-York  markets  is  slow  and  dilatory  at  all  sea- 
sons of  the  year.  The  farmer  cannot  convoiiently 
send  his  wheat  or  his  beef  and  pork  to  either  of  those 
great  markets  and  receive  the  avails  in  cash  on  his 
own  account.  He  is  gcneially  under  a necessity  of 
selling  his  produce  to  the  country  merchant  at  a re- 
duced price  ; and  to  receive  the  avails  in  goods,  or  to 
sell  on  a long  credit;  because  the  merchants  there, 
however  wealt!;y,  cannot  make  prompt  payment  in 
c-ash  for  produce  to  any  considerable  extent.  Their 


chief  remittances  to  New- York  must  ever  be  in  pro- 
duce ; and  if  the  course  of  transportation  be  such 
that  they  cannot  receive  the  avails  from  the  Nev,'-York 
market,  short  of  three  or  four  months  ; it  must  of 
necessity  result,  that  they  cannot  pay  a fair  and  liberal 
price  in  cash  to  the  farmer.  Experience  confirms 
tiie  truth  of  these  remarks.  Farmers  generally  are 
in  want  of  money,  at  the  close  of  every  season.  They 
must  raise  it  by  a sale  of  their  produce  to  the  conn- 
try  merchant.  If  the  merchant  can  have  a bank-loan, 
for  60  or  90  days,  it  enables  him  to  pay  a fair  price 
in  cash  to  the  farmer ; and  he  will  be  enabled  to  re- 
ceive the  avails  of  the  produce  from  the  New- York 
market,  in  time  to  meet  his  bank  engagement.  With 
the  liberal  aid  of  a bank,  therefore,  the  farmer  will 
at  all  times  command  a fair  price  in  cash  for  his  pro- 
duce ; but  without  such  aid,  he  must  be  compelled 
to  sell  on  credit  ; or  to  receive  half  its  value  from 
speculators  who  fatten  upon  monopolies,  and  enricli 
themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  farmer’s  toils. 

The  plan  proposed  by  this  bill  is  the  most  liberal 
and  equal  that  has  ever  come  before  this  legislature.— 
It  has  been  usual  heretofore  for  speculators  to  asso- 
ciate, and  agree  on  a division  of  the  stock  among 
themselves,  and  then  to  ask  for  an  incorporation.- — 
Almost  all  our  banks  have  been  established  on  that 
plan,  giving  an  immedidte  and  exclusive  profit  to 
tiie  associa.tes.  This  bill  enacts  tha.t  Augustus  Por- 
ter of  Niagara,  John  M.  Canfield  of  Jefierson, 
George  Huntington,  John  C.  Devereux,  Benjamm 
Walker,  Charles  C.  Brodhead  of  Oneida,  Windsor 
Maynard  of  Herkimer,  Abraham  Dox  of  Ontario, 
and  Perry  G.  Childs  of  Madison,  shall  be  commis-, 
sioners  for  opening  books  in  which  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Western  District  may  subscribe  for  slock. — 
After  these  subscriptions  are  made,  the  commission- 
ers are  to  meet  and  average  the  shares  equally  a- 
mong  all  the  counties  of  the  District,  according  to 
population;  and  the  commissiorrers  are  to  divide  the 
stock  in  each  county  as  they  think  reasonable,  allow- 
ing no  more  than  fifty  shares  (at  goO  each)  to  any 
subscriber.  On  this  plan  the  stock  womd  be  equally 
diffused  throughout  the  district.— -All  would  have  a 
A 2 


l omniori  interest  in  supporting  the  credit  of  the  bank  ; 
end  its  bLneiits  and  accoinmcclalions  would  be  extended 
to  all.  One  branch  of  the  bank  is  proposed  to  be 
t stablished  at  Utica  and  another  at  Geneva,  with  a cap- 
rial  of  S 500,000. 

I ask  the  alLCiilion  of  the  Senate,  while  I attempt  to 
rliow  some  local  and  pec\iliur  reasons  why  this  bank 
vhould  be  established. 

It  is  an  alarniine;  fact,  that  the  trade  of  a large  por- 
tion of  the  Western  District  is  now  flowing  to  the  Can- 
ada markets,  and  unless  liberal  and  spirited  efibrts  are 
soon  made  to  reclaim  it,  by  im]noving  the  inland  navi- 
gation, and  by  every  oth^r  means  in  our  power;  the 
commercial  prospects  of  this  state  will  be  in  a great 
measure  blasltd 

The  establishment  of  this  bank  will  essentially  aid 
in  preventing  the  western  produce  from  being  di- 
verted to  a foreign  market.  And  let  the  merchants 
of  New-York  and  Albany  consider,  that  vrherever 
our  produce  goes,  there  our  purchases  of  goods 
must  chiefly  be  made.  A bank  at  Utica  will  always 
enable  the  merchants  in  that  vicinity  to  pay  cash  for 
})rodLicc  to  any  amount;  and  it  would  be  decisive  in 
dtiverting  a large  portion  of  trade  to  Albany  and  New- 
York,  which  for  the  want  of  a nearer  and  more  am- 
ple market,  now  flows  down  the  St.  Lawrence.  It 
often  iiappens,  that  there  is  good  sleighing  to  Utica 
from  every  part  of  the  Western  District  ; when  there 
is  no  sleighing  from  Udea  to  Albany.  How  impor- 
'•ant.,  then,  that  there  shoujd  be  always  a .sufficient 
banking  capital  at  that  point  1 The  prosperity  of  the 
merchant,  and  the  value  of  the  farmer’s  hard  earnings 
essentially  dcpeiul  on  it. 

The  circulating  medium  of  the  AVestern  District 
now  consists  in  a great  degree  of  New-England  bank 
nctcB,  put  in  circulation  tiierc  by  indirect  violations 
-and  evasions  of  the  law  for  restraining  banking  asso- 
ciations. AVeare  paying  an  enormous  sum  of  inter- 
est to  bankers  of  other  states,  who  smuggle  into  the 
Western  counties  a species  of  bank  paper  which  our 
banks  will  not  receive  ; and  which,  of  course,  remains 
there  in  ta,rdy  circulation  ;•  distrusted  by  many  ; and 
subjecting  us  ail  the  hazards  and  impositions  of 


tho&e  foreign  banks,  without  any  real  or  substantia! 
benefit.  The  establishment  of  an  independent  bank 
in  the  Western  district  would  drive  all  that  spurious 
foreign  bank-paper  out  of  the  state. 

The  influx  of  gold  and  silver  coin  from  Canada  into 
that  part  of  the  state  is  favorable  to  a bank;  and  will 
enable  it  to  afford  liberal  discounts  without  hazard  of 
increasing  the  paper  medium  to  excess. 

The  Western  District  has  already  made  more  pro- 
gress in  manufactories  than  any  other  part  of  the  state. 
In  the  county  of  Oneida  alone  there  are  already  incor- 
porated, the 

Oneida  Manufacturing  Company — Cotton,  Wool  and 
Iron. 

New-Hartford  Manufacturing  Society— Cotton  and 
Wool. 

Oriskany  Manufacturing  Company— Cotton,  Woo! 
and  Iron. 

Oldenbarneveld  Manufacturing  Company— Wool  and 
Cotton. 

White  sborough  Cloth  Manufactory— —Cotton  and 
Wool. 

Clinton  Manufacturing  Company— Cotton  and  Wool, 
Oneida  Glass  Company. 

Utica  Glass  Company. 

Mount  Vernon  Glass  Company. 

Rome  Glass  and  Iron  Company. 

These  associations  are  formed  by  men  of  substan- 
tial wealth;  several  of  them  are  already  in  successful 
operation,  and  every  one  of  them  has  a fair  prospect 
of  success ; if  they  can  have  the  patronage  of  the 
government  so  far  as  to  enable  them  to  avail  them- 
selves of  their  own  resources.  They  ask  no  loans 
from  your  treasury  : They  only  want  aid  of  a 
bank  to  enable  them  to  buy  their  stock,  and  to  sell 
their  manufactured  articles  when  the  markets  are 
most  favourable.  Without  bank  accommodations,  they 
must  often  be  compelled  to  buy  dear  and  sell  cheap.— 
With  such  aid,  they  will  prosper  and  enrich  the  state 
as  well  as  tlie  stockholders ; without  this  fostering  aid 
they  may  fail  of  success. 

The  village  of  Utica  is  more  important;  and  has  a 
larger  commerce  than  Catskill,  Esopus,  ISewburgh  or 


l*ou,e:hkecp5ie.  It  is  a point  at  which  the  trade  of 
the  Western  District  centers  in  a great  degree.  Its 
remote  distance  from  the  great  rnarkets,  and  from  all 
other i)anks,  gives  it  a pre-eminent  claim.  We  have 
distributed  banks  in  every  other  part  of  the  state  with 
a liberal  hand.  In  establisliing  the  Middle  District 
bank,  the  bounty  of  the  legislature  was  so  prolific  as 
to  produce  two  banks  at  a birth  : and  we  are  now  told 
thcit  the  bastard  offspring  of  the  Manhattan  company, 
foisted  upon  us  at  Utica,  is  as  much  as  we  deserve. — 
The  Manhattan  bank  has  a branch  at  Poughkeepsie  as 
well  as  at  Utica;  and  yet  we  have  heard  no  objection  to 
the  establishment  of  an  independent  bank  at  Pough- 
keepsie, on  that  account.  The  people  of  the  Western 
District  want  a bank  which  they  can  call  their  own  ; 
whose  profits  and  prosperity  may  be  connected- and 
identified  with  their  interest  ; whose  directors  and 
stockholders  have  a sympathy  for,  and  an  interest  in, 
relieving  their  pecuniary  distress  and  embarrassment. 

If  gentlemen  imagine  that  the  Manhattan  branch  at 
Utica  was  intended  for  the  benefit  of  the  Western  Dis- 
trict ; if  they  suppose  it  satisfies  the  wishes,  and  su^j- 
plies  the  necessary  capital  for  that  part  of  the 
state,  they  are  grossly  deceived.  The  stock  of  that 
branch  is  owned  almost  exclusively  by  persons  living 
in  the  city  of  New-York.  The  deputy  directors  at 
Utica  have  little  or  no  interest  in  it.  They  have  no 
poAver  of  creating  bank  notes,  nor  of  issuing  a single 
bill  without  the  consent  of  their  masters  in  New-York, 
They  may  strut  with  all  the  mock  dignity  of  puppets  ; 
but  the  master  wire-men  keep  behind  the  curtain  in 
New- York. 

The  operations  of  the  branch  are  always  made  sub- 
servient to  the  views  and  interest  of  the  New-Y’ork 
directors.  If  they  have  any  bank  notes  to  put  in  cir- 
culation beyond  what  their  discounts  in  New-York 
require  ; then  forsooth  a package  of  bank  notes  is 
vouchsafed  to  Utica,  if  an  opportunity  occurs  for  send- 
ing it. 

They  deal  out  to  us,  men  of  the  woods,  a morsel 
now  and  then,  siifiicient  to  keep  alive  our  hope,  and 
to  preserve  our  dependence:  but  I asser..  without  fear 
of  contradiction,  that  the  supply  of  bank  paper  from. 


that  source,  is  at  all  times  so  precarious  that  ucr  pru- 
dent man  can  rely  on  it  for  bank  accommodation  : 
and  that  it  is  altogether  inadequate  to  the  reasonable 
wants  of  that  country.  I assert  another  fact  too,  that 
in  reality  it  is  intended  as  an  office  of  deiiosit^  and  not 
as  an  office  of  discount.^  to  any  considerable  degree.  I 
assert  as  a fact,  it  has  often  happened  that  when 
checks  have  been  presented  at  the  Utica  branch,  the 
ans^ver  has  been,  we  have  no  bank  notes  of  any 
kind  ; you  must  receive  payment  in  gold,  or  wait  till 
our  bank  paper  arrives  from  New-York.”  Was  ever 
such  a bank  heard  of  before  ? Does  it  deserve  the  name 
of  a bank  for  discounts  ? If  I have  mistated  any  fact, 
let  the  two  bank  directors  wdio  are  present  (Mr. 
Bloodgood  and  Mr._ Smith)  correct  me.  I w^ait  for 
their  answ^er.  [Neither  Mr.  Bloodgood  nor  Mr.  Smith 
made  any  reply.]  The  main  object  is.  to  collect  the 
gold  and  silver  of  the  western  district  to  supply  the 
vaults  of  the  Manhattan  bank  in  New-York.  In  this 
way  they  are  draining  the  western  country  of  specie  ; 
wdiich  is  flowing  in  a continued  stream  through  that 
channel,  to  enrich  the  capitalists  of  New-York  ; who 
feel  little  interest  in  our  welfare,  and  no  sympathy  for 
our  distress. 

. Besides,  this  branch  is  a mere  tenant  at  will.  It 
may  be  withdrawn  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Manhattan 
Directors. 

The  honourable  member  from  the  southern  district 
(Mr.  De  Witt  Clinton)  has  informed  us,  that  he  believes 
the  branch  at  Utica  is  unprofitable  to  the  stockholders  ; 
or  at  least,  that  they  might  employ  their  capital  more 
profitably  in  New-York.  If  this  be  so,  we  have  good 
ground  to  conclude  that  they  will  withdraw  that 
branch  : and  if  such  be  their  determination,  it  will 
be  an  additional  reason  for  substituting  an  independ- 
ent bank,  which  may  enable  the  Manhattan  Company  to 
withdraw  their  capital,  and  wind  up  the  concerns  of  that 
branch  without  loss  to  themselves,  or  distress  to  the  peo- 
ple who  are  indebted  to  them. 

The  gentleman  from  the  Southern  District,  (Mr.  De 
Witt  Clinton)  has  asked  with  contemptuous  exultation  ; 
“ is  it  an  injury  that  the  Manhattan  company  send 
part  of  their  capital  to  Utica  ? Is  it  (says  he)  an  act 


of  injustice  or  oppression  for  a rich  man  in  New- 
York  to  loan  his  money  in  the  western  district 
1 answer  no,  sir  I But  when  this  rich  man  in  New- 
York  claims  and  insists  upon  the  exclusive  right  of 
loaning  money  to  us  : when  he  declares  with  legis- 
lative sanction,-  that  we  shall  have  as  much  or  as  lit- 
tle money  as  he  chooses  ; and  upon  such  terms  only 
as  he  thinks  proper  ; then  sir,  it  is  injustice  ; it  is 
oppression  ; ’tis  odious  tyranny  j '^ds  pecuniary  des- 
podsm. 

My  colleague  from  the  western  district,  (Mr.  Swift) 
has  declared  that  he  believes  the  people  of  that  district 
are  generally  opposed  to  independent  banks  atUtica  and 
Geneva  as  contemplated  by  this  bill.  He  has  stated  that 
he  believes  thixie  quarters  of  his  constituents  are  oppos- 
ed to  this  measure. 

I know  nothing  of  the  private  communications  he  may 
have  received.  If  he  has  any  thing  to  shew  as  the 
grounds  of  such  belief  ; I should  be  glad  to  hear  it. 

[Mr.  Swift  gave  no  further  information.] 

The  people  of  the  western  district  appear  by  their  pe- 
titions before  us  to  be  perfectly  united  in  this  object, 
without  distinction  of  party.  Year  after  year  have  they 
appeared  as  your  humble  suppliants.  Never  has  a re- 
monstrance been  presented  against  the  object  of  their 
petition.  Hitherto  they  have  been  sternly  denied,  on 
the  ground,  that  it  was  dangerous  to  increase  the  num- 
ber of  banks. 

The  gentleman  from  the  southern  district,  (Mr.  De 
Witt  Clinton)  has  attempted  to  alarm  us  by  reading  a 
report  of  the  disgraceful  failure  of  the  Penobscot  bank. 
I know  sir,  the  banking  system  has  been  carried  ta 
great  excess  in  some  parts  of  New-England  ; and  I 
hope  we  shall  profit  by  their  example.  But,  sir,  I would 
remind  that  gentleman,  that  rve  are  not  at  all  descend- 
ants from  Penobscot.  And  if  we  were,  it  does  not  follow 
that  Ve  are  all  knaves.  It  is  said  that  a set  of  swindlers 
at  Penobscot  got  possession  of  a bank  ; and  ruined 
themselves  ; and  defrauded  the  community.  Granted, 
sir  ! but  does  it  prove  that  the  Western  District  of  this 
state  is  not  entitled  to,  nor  fit  to  be  trusted  with  a single 
bank  ^ 


Within  tlie  last  month, have  by  large  majorities  in 
senate  and  assembly,  incorporated  six  new  banks,  with 
an  aggregate  eapital  of  three  millions,  eight  hundred 
thousand  dollars  I now  ask  on  behalf  of  the  western 
distriet,  for  a bank,  with  five  hundred  thousand  dollars 
capital.  In  behalf  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-two  thou- 
sand of  your  fellow-citizens  ; in  behalf  of  twenty-two 
counties  of  this  state,  I appeal  to  your  justice  and  impar- 
tiality. 

My  colleagues  from  the  western  district,  who  op- 
pose this  bill,  may,  if  they  please,  lick  the  crunibs 
which  fail  from  the  rich  man’s  table.  As  the  repre- 
sentative of  freemen,  I disdain  such  mean  conde- 
scension. I shall  never  turn  Swiss,  and  enter  inio 
foreign  service.  May  my  tongue  lose  its  utterance, 
if  my  voice  be  ever  raised  in  opposition  to  what  I 
know  to  be  for  the  best  interest  of  those  whom  I repre- 
sent. 

I know  that  my  constituents  have  equal  rights  ; and 
merit  equal  favor,  with  any  other  portion  of  my  fellow- 
citizens.  I know  too,  they  are  as  intelligent  as  any  other 
part  ol  this  community  ; and  I trust  they  will  dj^cern  the 
difference  between  their  real  friends  and  their  base  fat- 
terers. 

Mr.  Chairman,  any  man  can  profess  any  thing. 
The  decision  on  this  bill,  will  test  the  sincerity  of 
those,  who  boast  so  loudly  of  their  regard  for  the 
equal  rights  of  the  People.  Let  our  constituents  judge 
who  have  been  their  faithful  representatives  on  this  oc- 
casion. 

The  next  state-census  will  probably  give  to  the 
western  district  a majority  of  the  members  of  the  le- 
gislature. I do  not  mean  to  intimate  a threat;  but  I 
appeal  to  the  policy,  as  well  as  the  justice  of  all  who 
tear  me  ; and  ask  whether  it  is  wise  and  prudent  to 
deny  to  that  large  portion  of  the  state,  the  small  favor 
which  they  now  solicit  ? I beseech  gentlemen  to  be- 
ware how  they  afford  even  a pretext  for  retaliation.-— 
Let  them  consider  that  the  banks  which  have  been 
showered  down  in  such  rich  profusion  in  every  other 
part  of  the  state,  must  shortly  ask  for  a renewal  of  their 
charters.  M'is  possible  that  injustice  may  be  remer,iber- 
ed. 


Sir,  there  is  a yonrsg  lion  in  the  west.  He  is  now 
tame  and  gentle  as  the  spaniel.  He  seems  to  lick  the 
hand  that  scourges  him.  But  be  assured  he  will  soon 
arrive  at  niaturity,  and  become  conscious  of  his 
strength.  He  will,  1 hope,  be  generous  and  noble; 
but  beware  how  you  provoke  his  indignation  by  injury 
and  insult. 

The  question  being  taken,  passed  in  the  negative  in 
manner  following,  viz. 

Affirmative. 


Mr.  COE, 
HALL 


PARIS, 
PHELPS, 
PL  A I T, 


HOPKINS, 

LEWIS, 


WILLIAMSES, 


JVegative. 

Mr.  BLOODGOOD, 
BREl  T, 


MTEAN, 

REA, 

SELDEN, 

SMALLEY, 

SMITH, 

SWIFT, 

TOWNSEND, 

WHITE, 

YATESe.18. 


BROWN, 

CARL, 


CLINTON, 

GILBERT, 

HAIGHT, 


HUMPHREY, 

MARTIN, 


r 


